President Bola Tinubu has congratulated the new Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Andy Burnham, on his assumption of office, expressing confidence that Nigeria and the UK will further strengthen their long-standing diplomatic, political and economic relations.
The President also praised the peaceful transfer of power in the United Kingdom, describing it as another demonstration of the country’s strong democratic institutions and constitutional tradition.
Tinubu’s congratulatory message was conveyed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through its spokesperson, Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa.
According to the ministry, the President expressed optimism that the new British leader would build on the progress already made in relations between both countries and deepen cooperation in areas of mutual interest.
The statement said Tinubu looked forward to working closely with Prime Minister Burnham through bilateral engagements and multilateral platforms, particularly the Commonwealth, to advance the interests of both nations.
It read in part, “President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has extended warm congratulations to Rt. Honourable Andy Burnham on his assumption of office as the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
“In his congratulatory message, President Tinubu also felicitated with the Government and people of the United Kingdom for the peaceful, orderly and seamless leadership transition, which once again reflects the strength of the country’s democratic institutions and constitutional tradition.”
The President also recalled his official visit to the United Kingdom earlier this year, during which he met with the immediate past British Prime Minister.
According to the statement, Tinubu described the meeting as productive and expressed confidence that the new administration under Burnham would sustain and expand the achievements recorded during that visit.
“The President recalled with fond memories his productive engagement with the immediate past Prime Minister during his official visit to the United Kingdom in March 2026 and expressed confidence that Prime Minister Burnham would build on and consolidate the achievements recorded by that visit,” the statement added.
The President further said he was eager to engage the new British Prime Minister at the earliest opportunity to deepen cooperation between both countries.
He noted that Nigeria remains committed to expanding partnerships with the United Kingdom in areas that will benefit the citizens of both nations.
According to the statement, Tinubu hopes to work with Burnham both through direct bilateral meetings and within international organisations, particularly the Commonwealth.
“He looks forward to exploring vistas of partnership, collaboration and cooperation with the United Kingdom under the new Prime Minister.
“President Tinubu further expressed his desire to engage with Prime Minister Burnham at the earliest opportunity, bilaterally and multilaterally, especially under the auspices of the Commonwealth, to deepen bilateral relations and strengthen the strategic partnership between both countries for the benefit of their peoples.”
The Federal Government also wished the new British leader success in office and reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to maintaining strong relations with the UK.
“The Federal Government of Nigeria wishes Prime Minister Andy Burnham a successful tenure in office and assures him of Nigeria’s readiness to work closely with his administration in advancing shared priorities and addressing common global challenges,” the statement concluded.
The congratulatory message comes as Nigeria seeks to strengthen its diplomatic and economic partnerships with major global powers while attracting greater foreign investment to support economic growth and development.
The United Kingdom has remained one of Nigeria’s closest international partners since the country gained independence in 1960. Over the decades, both countries have maintained strong diplomatic ties and cooperated in several areas, including trade, investment, education, healthcare, security and governance.
Britain is one of Nigeria’s leading trading partners and one of the biggest sources of foreign direct investment into the country. Many British companies operate in Nigeria across sectors such as banking, energy, telecommunications, manufacturing and professional services.
Nigeria also has one of the largest African communities in the United Kingdom. Thousands of Nigerians live, study and work in Britain, contributing significantly to the economies of both countries through business, education, healthcare and other professional services.
Education remains one of the strongest links between the two nations. Every year, thousands of Nigerian students enrol in British universities, making Nigeria one of the largest sources of international students in the UK. Both governments have also collaborated on scholarship programmes, research partnerships and educational exchanges.
Security cooperation has equally remained an important aspect of Nigeria-UK relations. Britain has supported Nigeria in tackling terrorism, organised crime and maritime insecurity through intelligence sharing, military training and capacity-building programmes for security agencies.
The two countries have also partnered on efforts to combat corruption, improve public sector governance and strengthen democratic institutions. In addition, Nigeria and the UK work together on climate change, migration, healthcare, youth development and regional peace initiatives.
Both countries are members of the Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 56 nations that promotes democracy, good governance, trade, sustainable development and cooperation among member states.
Tinubu has repeatedly said his administration is committed to strengthening Nigeria’s relationships with strategic partners around the world to support his government’s economic reforms and development agenda.
Since assuming office, the President has embarked on several foreign engagements aimed at attracting investment, promoting trade and expanding Nigeria’s diplomatic influence.
His latest message to the new British Prime Minister signals Nigeria’s intention to maintain the close relationship that has existed between both countries for decades while exploring new opportunities for cooperation under the new UK administration.
As Prime Minister Burnham begins his tenure, both Nigeria and the United Kingdom are expected to continue working together on regional and global issues while strengthening bilateral ties for the mutual benefit of their citizens.